Help Noise from gearbox

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porch
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Tue Jan 03, 2006 10:46 pm

Hi, need tec help. Noise coming from gear box only in neutral. press foot down on clutch,noise goes. Take foot off clutch, noisy again. I'm thinking clutch bearing ? been noisy since I brought it about month ago,

but today started making a really loud noise after driving about 5 miles came off carriageway to stop. Turned left put it in first to take off heard a klunk, noise was gone. Any one out there got any ideas?
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E30Mark
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Wed Jan 04, 2006 9:47 am

Definitely sounds like your thrust bearing is knackered
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Mops
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Wed Jan 04, 2006 6:47 pm

E30Mark wrote:Definitely sounds like your thrust bearing is knackered
I have the same problem. Is it ok to drive like this ?
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Wed Jan 04, 2006 6:55 pm

Sounds like the opposite to a release bearing, a buggered release bearing makes its noise when the clutch is pressed down not up.

It's a common characteristic of e30 manual boxes, the gearbox internals start to rattle as they wear and will do so for a long time before giving up the fight. The gearbox noise disappers when you press the clutch beacuse the gearbox is disengaged from the engine and stops rotating.

Don't know why yours has suddenly stopped though :?

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Wed Jan 04, 2006 6:55 pm

does it sound like a rough grinding/chattering noise?

It has to be remembered that all Getrag boxes "chatter/grumble" whilst in neutral. This could perhaps be quietened a little by an oil change, consult someone with some knowledge as to whether a thicker gearbox oil is advised. See how it is then.

I thought I had this same problem in May last year and was doubtful about drag racing the car a week or so later, but after being advised on here and also speaking with my old man who is a gearbox specialist, he said all Getrag's grumble, something to do with the idle shaft or layshaft or something.

Unless the noise is horrendous and obviously a mechanical nightmare about to erupt, i would hold fire on tearing the box out.
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porch
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Wed Jan 04, 2006 8:25 pm

porch wrote:Hi, need tec help. Noise coming from gear box only in neutral. press foot down on clutch,noise goes. Take foot off clutch, noisy again. I'm thinking clutch bearing ? been noisy since I brought it about month ago,

but today started making a really loud noise after driving about 5 miles came off carriageway to stop. Turned left put it in first to take off heard a klunk, noise was gone. Any one out there got any ideas?
Thank you all for your help still not sure what to do. Think i'm going to drive it around a little if the noise comes back, fcuk it out with the old and in with the new.
How much do think manual gearbox costs ?
If any one has one and lives nearby give me a quote
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gareth
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Wed Jan 04, 2006 9:10 pm

mine has been doing this so loud it can be heard from a way off, over the (very loud) scorpion exhaust for over a year since i bought it and it's been thrashed to within an inch of it's life since with the thinking that once it goes bang then i'll have the real incentive to change it!

alas... it's still going strong and the engine has gone instead!

don't lose any sleep over it, they seem to go on forever like that. it may just be worth doing it if you need a new clutch or something at some point
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porch
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Wed Jan 04, 2006 9:19 pm

gareth wrote:mine has been doing this so loud it can be heard from a way off, over the (very loud) scorpion exhaust for over a year since i bought it and it's been thrashed to within an inch of it's life since with the thinking that once it goes bang then i'll have the real incentive to change it!

alas... it's still going strong and the engine has gone instead!

don't lose any sleep over it, they seem to go on forever like that. it may just be worth doing it if you need a new clutch or something at some point
Think i'm going to get hold for a gearbox and new clutch, and drive it till it goes bang. At least i'll have a box to go straight in.
Cheers for that.
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